Mǎtaìfúyīn 6:17

17 Nǐmen jìnshí de shíhou , yào shūtóu xǐ liǎn ,

Mǎtaìfúyīn 6:17 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 6:17

But thou, when thou fastest
Christ allows of fasting, but what is of a quite different kind from that of the Jews; which lay not in an outward abstinence from food, and other conveniences of life, and refreshments of nature; but in an abstinence from sin, in acknowledgment and confession of it; and in the exercise of faith and hope in God, as a God pardoning iniquity, transgression and sin; wherefore cheerfulness, and a free use of the creatures, without an abuse of them, best became such persons.

Anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
directly contrary to the Jewish canons, which forbid these things, with others, on fast days:

``On the day of atonement, (say ^F9 they,) a man is forbidden eating and drinking, (hkyobwhuyxrbw) "and washing and anointing", and putting on of shoes, and the use of the bed.''

And the same were forbidden on other fasts: in anointings, the head was anointed first, and this rule and reason are given for it:

``he that would anoint his whole body, (hlyxt wvar Ko) , "let him anoint his head first", because it is king over all its members ^F11.''

Anointing and washing were signs of cheerfulness and joy; see ( Ruth 3:3 ) ( 2 Samuel 12:20 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Misn. Yoma, c. 8. sect. 1. & Taanith, c. 1. sect. 4, 5, 6. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 77. 2. Taanith, fol. 12. 2. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. affirm. 32.
F11 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 61. 1.

Mǎtaìfúyīn 6:17 In-Context

15 Nǐmen bù raóshù rén de guò fàn , nǐmen de tiān fù yĕ bì bù raóshù nǐmen de guò fàn .

16 Nǐmen jìnshí de shíhou , bùkĕ xiàng nà jiǎmàowéishànderén , liǎn shang daì zhe chóuróng . yīnwei tāmen bǎ liǎn nòng de nánkàn , gùyì jiào rén kàn chū tāmen shì jìnshí . wǒ shízaì gàosu nǐmen , tāmen yǐjing dé le tāmende shǎngcì .

17 Nǐmen jìnshí de shíhou , yào shūtóu xǐ liǎn ,

18 Búyào jiào rén kàn chū nǐ jìnshí lái , zhǐ jiào nǐ ànzhōng de fù kànjian . nǐ fù zaì ànzhōng chákàn , bìrán bàodá nǐ .

19 Búyào wèi zìjǐ jīzǎn cáibǎo zaì dì shang , dì shang yǒu chóngzi yǎo , néng xiù huaì , yĕ yǒu zéi wā kūlóng lái tōu .